Calendar of fishing-related activities (including aquaculture), rice growing activities and related festivals and events happen along the Mekong:

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1 of fishing-related activities (including aquaculture), rice growing activities and related festivals and events happen along the Mekong: Information prepared for National Geographic Magazine by staff from the Mekong Water Dialogues. Country Event/Activity name Description Location (specific) 1 st July National Fish day Svay Reang for 2011 Last Week of or first week of November (this event is flexible celebrating according to the level of water and wind season in Tonle Sap so the date may change accordingly) 9 th, 10 th, 11 th November Ceremony to commence fishing in Tonle Sap (this is a ceremony for individual private fishing lot owners to bring good luck when they start fishing) National Water Festival with boat racing festival Near Prek Toal, Tonle Sap Chatomuk River in front of Royal Palace, PP Describe how to get there (by road, boat, etc) Flight to Phnom Penh (PP) and take taxi from PP to Svay Reang Can take direct flight to Siem Reap then take boat from Siem Reap to Tonle Sap By flight directly to PP Travel time from closest major town About 2 hour and a half from PP to Svay Reang It will take about one and a half hour from Siem Reap to Prek Toil Contact details for further information (Name/Organisation/ ) Lao Ok Phensaa (The end of Buddhist lent and the Boat-racing Festival) A festival to celebrate the end of Buddhist Lent and the rainy season with multiple events including floating candlelit offerings down the river and a full day of dragon-boat racing on the Mekong in Vientiane. Also linked to the appearance of the Naga fireballs above the Mekong River between Lao and (see Vientiane: the offerings are made at numerous locations; the racing takes place right in the city centre; the Naga fireballs are viewed from Nongkhai in or Pak Festival: flight to Vientiane; local transport easy to arrange around town. Fireballs: hire a vehicle to travel to Pak Ngeum, about 80 km south of Vientiane, or to Phonepisai near minutes in Vientiane; hours to Pak Ngeum (traffic jams common during the festival) 1

2 ories/naga-fireball.html) Ngeum near Vientiane. Nongkhai on the Thai side of the river. Lao Year-round Traditional trap fisheries at Siphandone (Four Thousand Islands). Different types of fishing activity throughout the year. The most spectacular rattan and bamboo large fish traps, such as wing traps (lii) are used to catch fish mostly from May-July in the dramatic falls and channels of Siphandone (see ion/secretariat/offices/asia/a sia_where_work/lao/resourc es_/publications_/?3334/sip handone-the-mekong-river- Under-Threat). Siphandone, Khong District, Champassak, southern Lao (close to the border with ) Flight/overnight bus from Vientiane to Pakse; 2-3 hours by road to Siphandone; mins by boat to particular islands/channels. Or travel by car/minivan from Stung Treng,. Closest major town is Pakse; 3-4 hours travel time by road & boat. Lao Late January / Early February Boun Xang (Elephant Festival) at the Beung Kiat Ngong Wetlands in southern Lao (one of the country s first two Ramsar sites, and also located largely within the Xepian National Protected Area). Beung Kiat Ngong, Pathoumphone District, Champassak, southern Lao Flight/overnight bus from Vientiane to Pakse; 1-2 hours by road to Beung Kiat Ngong. 1-2 hours from Pakse. This area is well-known for its elephants, including traditional mahout culture and elephant trekking. The festival, taking place near the wetlands, includes parades, elephant baci (string) ceremony, etc. 2

3 ( al/) Lao / December-February Spawning dance of Probarbus jullieni (Pa Eun Kawt Kan (also known by the common name Jullien's Golden Carp) December-March Riverside gardens growing vegetables, tobacco, tomatoes, etc December-April Fishing camps on seasonal islands Occurs around seasonal exposed sandbars in the river between Loei and Xayabouri Many places including Chiangkhan s Many places including Don Khai in Chiang District, Loei Fly to Vientiane then 4 hour drive to Pak Lay and 1 hour boat trip downriver; or fly to Loei, 1 hour drive to Chiang and 2 hour boat trip upriver 5 hours from Vientiane, 3 hours from Loei 19 April 2011 Giant Cat Fish ceremony Chiangkong District, Chiangrai Last week of Fish festival fish food contest, fish boat, exhibition from villagers and agencies working on wetlands conservation Songkhram river basin- Srisongkhram district, Nakornpanom By flight from BKK to Chiangrai and by car to Chiangkong By Flight from BKK to Nakon Panom, or by car from BKK 2 hours from Chiangrai airport 1 hours from Nakonphanom airport Mr Tawatchai Rattanasorn, IUCN Tawatchai.rattanasorn@iucn.org Mr Tawatchai Rattanasorn, IUCN Tawatchai.rattanasorn@iucn.org Full moon week in Auk Pan Sa a week of boat races; beauty pageants; wax castle and night time lantern boat contests, celebrating the end of Buddhist Lent/Rains Retreat. Chiang 3

4 First morning after the full moon in Full moon in November A special offering of alms to a large procession of monks along the river bank, on the day on which it is believed the Buddha comes back to earth and inhabits the body of one of the monks allowing people who give food to that monk to gain very high merit Loy Krathong floating banana leaf boats with incense and flowers on the river to pay respect to the goddess of water and at the same time wash away ones sins from the previous year Various dates Seub Chada Mae Kong religious ceremony to prolong the life of the Mekong River Chiang Chiang Chiang March and 9-10 November, Lunar May, Lunar 10 March, Lunar Phu Le Temple Festival: Worship to saints and spirits for good weather, success crops My Long Sea Festival: Whale parade, Ba Chua Xu (Local Mother) parade and workship to Than Nong (Shénnóng: Agricultural Saint). Local people play games and participate in competitions: sack races, tug of war, hand fishing etc. Vam Lang Festival (Whale parade): many activities including a Whale parade with hundreds fishing boats Phu Le commune, Ba Tri District, Ben Tre Ba Chua Xu Temple, My Long Town, Cau Ngang District, Tra Vinh Ong Nam Hai (Whale) tomb, Kien Phuoc Commune, Go Cong Dong District, Tien car to Ben Tre City and to Ba Tri District car to Tra Vinh City and to My Long town car to Tien Giang and to Go Cong Dong c. 140km, 2 and half hour from SGN c. 230km, 4 hours from SGN c. 140km, 2 and half hour from SGN 4

5 18 April, Lunar Pray for the Rain Festival: Worship, canoeing competition Giang Many districts, Long An car to Long An Tan An town is c. 50 km from SGN April, Lunar Binh Thuy Festival (Paddifield worship): Worship to the Earth spirit after harvesting Binh Thuy Commune, Can Tho City car to Can Tho, or flight from HAN to Can Tho c. 170 km, 3 hours and and All Countries April, Lunar 14-15, Lunar World Wetlands Day, 02 nd. February Chol Chnam Thmay Festival (New Khmer Year): New year, new crop Ooc-Om-Bok and ngo boat racing: Welcome water to the Mekong, worship to the Moon, floating lanterns, and canoeing-boat racing Various events in all 4 countries in different parts of the river and wetlands Khmer villages in the Mekong Delta Khmer pagodas, Maspéso River, Song Trang, Vietnam Various Flight to Ho Chi Minh City, car to Soc Trang city Depends on location c.220km, 4 hours from SGN Depends on location Charlotte, Sreng, Tawatchai, Tu, Robert 5